Dear Editor: On behalf of PNC Bank and team 4 civic coalition I want to thank the many customers of PNC and residents who donated toys for our toy drive this Christmas. Due to the holidays I wasn’t given the chance to commend the staff at PNC Bank that assisted us with collecting these toys, as well as the beautiful people of this town. I want to express much appreciation to Gerry Lisa & Associates for coming up big and contributing over a dozen toys. This was a very blessed activity for the children of the Boys and Girls Club here in Hoboken. When I dropped off the box filled with toys, the kids were excited to see what was in it. To see the joy and wonderful smiles placed on those kids who knew one of those toys might be for them, was so heart warming. On another note I was thrilled this week to enter the city council meeting and hear the loud applause and cheers for our superstars Tyrel Dortch and Carlos Perez of the HHS football team. It was a nice showing by the city to acknowledge these class act performers. I believe there are many rewards to being an outstanding athlete, but it’s more meaningful when these kids have come out of the projects ready to mingle with the best of them. Considering the trials and temptations they can detour them off course, makes it a great feeling to know that we are products of our environment. These guys have followed the footsteps of many others like Rashard Casey, but they all continue to walk their own trails. Therefore, it’s never a shame to grow up in the projects as long as you remember to think outside of those four walls which many times we are constrained to. So, my alumni friends of the projects, “if you don’t stand for anything, anything will stand in your way” and as a good friend shared with me “to stop dreaming is madness, but to continue dreaming is bliss.” Good luck in your endeavors and may God bless you all. Carmelo G. Garcia